Martin B Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Today I found a place 100m away from my house that has seed potatoes at 1kg = £1.99. They also had bulbs, for onions and shallots. If I got these would I just bung them in the ground and hope for the best. There were no instructions with the bulbs. Thanks. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Got this from the GardenAction site, Martin. Very useful. http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_august_1_onion.asp Still suffering with the bad back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 Thanks Egluntine. Just been to the doctors and I'm penicled in for an x-ray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 That is a really useful site all round. I really know my onions now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I've never 'got' onions either. Plant an onion to get ... oh wow an onion! We're growing leeks and spring onions instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 That's very true Bronze! Egluntine that site was fantastic. Thanks again! Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Thanks Egluntine. Just been to the doctors and I'm penicled in for an x-ray. Sounds rather drastic Martin! Hope you are sorted soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 My spelling has let me down again. Had the x-ray today and I am waiting to see if any of the bone is cracked or wether it is definately muscular damage. Have been advised to have school off tomorrow, this time off has given me the opportunity to catch up with my maths coursework! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 this time off has given me the opportunity to catch up with my maths coursework! Every cloud has a silver lining Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 homegrown onions (even from sets) I have found to be rather stronger and juicier than shop bought. They also grow to a range of different sizes which is more useful. Shallots are perhaps more fun since each bulb you plant multiplies to a bunch of shallots. The main reason that I grow onions is that they provide some protection to other crops, particularly carrots. The awesome carrot fly, which can smell carrots, parsnips and parsley growing fom up to five miles away and which will decimate a crop, hates onions and will sometimes be deterred completely if the carrots are surrounded by several rows of onions. Invaluable to organic gardeners! works for several other types of crops/beasties too. try googling 'companion planting' to find out more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 So it works similaly to chives? Never knew that, thanks Tara! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Thanks Tara...that's really useful. I have just been reading that Marigolds deter carrot fly too, so will plant onions and Marigolds with my carrots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Plus the smell of carrots deters the onion fly! I have bought marigold seeds and planted one per small pot. They have all germinated, so looks like I should have loads this year! 29p per packet from Lidl I've also heard that planting a couple of radishes with a cucumber plant stops cucumber beetle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 I am growing some onions from seed - am I mad? The onion thing has always confused me too. But I am pleased to know that they will deter carrot fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 growing onions from seed takes a bit longer and so more things get the chance to go wrong with your crop. However, it's far cheaper, there should be more varieties available to choose from and if you choose a non F1 variety, you can save your own seed each year and never have to buy any ever again! just leave one onion in the ground at harvest to develop a beautiful flower (like a big ball on a stem). you'll see the seeds, wait til they're brown/black and simply shake into a brown paper bag. one onion will produce seed enough for loads of packets! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 You know your onions Tara! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 I got 2 rows in today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 I got 2 rows in today Both rows have disappeared - I blame the squirrels or mice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Hi Cinnamon! The mice ate mine, so I have planted them individually in small pots. They have all sprouted and will plant them out later! Still have a few the mice haven't touched, I resorted to chicken wire over the patch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 26, 2007 Share Posted March 26, 2007 Good idea Christian - I will do the same We go away at the weekend,so I will get onto it when we are back (although it is bound to be raining again then ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
